The Nigerian Governors’ Spouse Forum has risen from its 2024 Annual Retreat in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital in the South East region of the country, with a call on State lawmakers to promote the policy of Six-month of pay maternity leave.
This was part of the resolutions reached at the meeting attended by 23 of the 35 State Governors wives.
The wife of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno died on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
The retreat chaired by the wife of the Kwara State Governor, Olufolake AbdulRasaq further resolved to continue the unwavering campaign against sexual and gender based violence in their various States.
AbdulRasaq described the annual retreat as pivotal in providing platform for members to deliberate and have deeper understanding of the diverse socio-cultural dynamics of States within the country.
The chair of the Forum equally restated the position of the States First Ladies in collectively endorsing the Global Alliance for vaccins and immunization, and appealed on parents and guardians to embrace the various healthcare programmes aimed at protecting and safeguarding the lives of women and children.
Wife of the the Ebonyi State Governor, Mary-Maudaline Nwifuru hosted the meeting which ended at about 6:30 in the evening, after members of Forum observed a minute silence in honour of their departed colleague, the first lady of Akwa Ibom State, late Pastor Patience Umo Eno.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
